Expedition Motor Company, known for its Mercedes-Benz G-Class conversions (see video), has rolled out a particularly impressive restomod. Working with an older G-Wagon, they extended its wheelbase, chopped off the roof and replaced the engine.
The result can be ordered from $235,000, approximately $100,000 more than you can expect to pay for a brand-new G-Class in North America. What do you get for the price? A largely redesigned body with two doors, a pair of paratrooper seats added at the rear end and more legroom for the second-row occupants – at least, the photos seem to suggest so. A luggage box has been added at the back to compensate for the loss of trunk, and a rugged body kit has been applied for extra style points.
A roll bar above the front seats and a semi-cage in the back compensate for the missing roof, Expedition claims. The windshield is hinged and can be folded down onto the hood when the soft top is not in use. The demo example seen here is dark green with brown leather, but customers are free to choose other combinations.
In its standard form, the restomod can be ordered with its traditional OM606a six-cylinder diesel. Despite its age, the inline engine remains fairly capable with 275 PS (271 hp / 202 kW) and 474 Nm (350 lb-ft) of torque at the crank. Those who demand more may request the aforementioned LS3 swap and get 430 PS (424 hp / 316 kW) from 6.2 liters of non-turbocharged displacement.
